Thanksgiving

We attended Thanksgiving dinner at my aunt and uncle's home yesterday. They don't live in the country, but their neighborhood has an abundance of wildlife.

From their kitchen window we saw over a dozen deer, various birds including a hawk, squirrels, and the feral cat that has lived on their property for over 20 years.

After we ate our feast, we went out in their back yard and fed the deer bread and cracked corn. The hawk received it's feast of the turkey carcass, and the birds were given sunflower seeds and veggie scraps. The cat was treated to turkey and also cat food.

It was so wonderful to walk out amongst the wildlife and share the bounty with them. It brought such peace and contentment as I felt so close to God and His creation.

I only wish I had my camera with me to capture what I saw and experienced, but it will remain in my memory always.

Happy Veteran's Day

Thank you to all who have served so bravely and sacrificed to keep our country free.

May God richly bless all who are currently in service, and bring you all home safely.

Birthday

Today is my birthday, which I also share with my twin brother Kenny(Happy Birthday Bro!). I got treated to lunch by two of my friends from my knitting group, and when I got home there was a knock at my door. It was the local florist. I received these beautiful flowers and box of chocolates from my hubby.

Meet Bailey & Taz

Hubby decided it was way too quiet without the pitter patter of cat paws, so we ended up adopting 2 littermates from the local animal shelter. Taz lives up to his name...he's always on the go! Bailey is the lover and would rather be in your lap (or on hubby's laptop).

Dream Farm Update

They just dropped the price $10,500 on it! Now if I could only win the lottery or sell the investment properties we have on the market, then we could afford it.

Goodbye Goldie :(

Yesterday, we had to put down my hubby's kitty Goldie. She was a stray we had rescued, and quickly became the love of our lives, especially my former he man cat hater husband. She fell ill over the weekend, so we took her into the vet. They treated her for a respiratory infection and then ran tests for feline leukemia and FIV. Early yesterday morning the vet called with the news that Goldie had advanced feline leukemia and FIV both, and that the best thing we could do for her was to have her euthanized, as she would just become sicker and weaker as time went on.

So, as we held and petted her, Goldie crossed the Rainbow Bridge.

Thank you sweet Goldie for the joy and love that you brought into our lives for the short time that you were with us. We will miss you so very much.

Blankets for my grandsweeties:)

I made these fleece blankets for my grandsweeties for Christmas. My granddaughter is getting the monkey one and my grandson is getting the Pixar Cars one.

Some Interior Pics Of My Dream Farm

Bedroom & Guestroom

Livingroom & View from livingroom into dining room

Kitchen area & Dining Room

This is a sunroom area off side entrance.

Two additional guest rooms

I think I'm In love!

On Saturday we went to look at a 108 yr old farm on 20 acres. It has 3 pastures, several outbuildings, and it's full of charm. The best part is that it's centrally located to where hubby's office is located, our present home, and most importantly also my grandsweeties!

The Search Continues

Last week we went and looked at properties in TN. The bad news is that all of them were in way worse shape than the real estate photos showed. One made "Green Acres" look like a mansion, and the other one, which was a newer home was so poorly built, the room over the garage was sagging...evidenced by the garage ceiling being bowed and the makeshift 'beams' made of scrap lumber attempting to keep it from caving in!

Sooo, for now our plans on real estate in TN are on hold.

My First Give A Way

I came across this book recently and have already read it, so I thought I'd pass it along in the form of a give a way to my friends at MJF. I will pick the winner on October 27th.

My Farming Ancestors

These are my great great grandparents, Daniel and Betty Frances Conry.

At age 22, Dan Conry, from County Roscommon, Ireland, came to the United States on the Ship Nestorian, departing from Liverpool on 09 March 1849. It was during the potato famine, and like many others, he was facing starvation in Ireland.

Being a stone-mason by trade, he left New York and came to Tennessee working from job to job at railroad building, especially bridges. In Tennessee he worked on the Capital, the tunnel between Cowan and Bridgeport and the coke ovens at Tracy City. He ultimately bought a farm and settled in Pelham Valley.

Dan,age 24, became a United States citizen by naturalization on 1 August 1851 in Franklin County,Tennessee

Daniel, age 28, and Betty Frances Keeling, age 18, married 02 April 1855 by Rev. Johathan Jacquet, Catholic priest, in Franklin County, Tennessee.

They had thirteen children. Eleven were raised to adulthood. Most of the children's baptismal records have been found.

Dan Conry has been described as a hard working, mild tempered man. He was independent to the degree of wanting to provide for his family without help. Even when their house burned and neighbors suggested taking up money for him, he declined saying "they would be fine and didn't need help."

He loved his children and grandchildren. It is said his wife had to correct the children, if they were corrected.

Dan would have his Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve, making sure each child had all the candy he wanted. Any other Christmas plans, if any, were left to someone else.
It is said his favorite supper was mush with molasses and milk.

Frances, his wife, died in 1875 at the age of 38, giving birth to their thirteenthth child. The infant also died. He was left with eleven children, the oldest nineteen and the youngest two.

Daniel was 67 when he died in 1894. Both Frances and Daniel are buried in Warren Cemetery, Grundy County, Tennessee.

Farmgirl Trapped In The City

All of my life I've wanted to live in the country. My ancestors were all farmers in Tennessee, so I guess it's just in my blood to want to live in a place where the pace of life is slower and simpler, and where the only sounds I hear at night are the crickets and the breeze rustling the leaves on the trees.

So, where have I lived all of my life so far? It's been in the concrete confines of the suburbs where I feel like a prisoner waiting for a pardon or escape. I don't feel at home here. I don't have a sense of peace, comfort or belonging in this place where everything is so fast paced that the people seldom smile much less greet each other with a simple "hello".

Finally though, after too many years, my dream of living in the country may come true! We are currently looking at properties and may have found the perfect place. How ironic that this place is in Tennessee. It's like my ancestors are calling me home with open and welcoming arms.